My Water Diet: I Tried To Drink 3 Liters A Day And This Is What Happened

Everyone knows that drinking water (and a substantial amount) is important for a healthy lifestyle. Water lubricates your joints, it protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and it helps to regulate your body temperature. This would make sense since 60 percent of the human adult body is made up of water. According to a 2013 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, 43 percent of adults drink less than four cups of water a day, 36 percent drink one to three cups, and seven percent drink none.

When I first decided to start my own version of the “water diet,” it was for skin reasons. I had come across a girl who said that she drank three liters of water per day, and it cleared up her acne. I don’t have terrible skin, but living in a city, it’s easy for your skin to be affected by pollution, stress, and just the overall lifestyle of a fast-paced city.

What I did:

Every morning, I would get up and drink an 8-ounce glass of water. I did this an hour before I had to leave my house in case I needed to go to the bathroom. When I got to work, I filled up my 16-ounce water bottle and drank it through a straw. For some reason, drinking though a straw helped me to drink more because I would take sips without thinking. I had to fill this up six times per day to get the three liters.

For the first few days, I made a conscious effort to keep up with this, but after day four, I started to write down how many ounces I drank just to keep track. I ended up having to use the bathroom seven times during the workday. And like I did in the morning, I would drink my last glass an hour before I had to head home, in fear of needing to make a pit stop while I was traveling.

How I felt:

I did notice a change right away. I felt a little more energized, and my naturally dry skin felt softer and suppler. I also felt like my constant snacking habits were curbed. I still ate my meals every day, but I snacked a little less. I also noticed that the pores on my face seemed to shrink. This wasn’t evaluated by a dermatologist or any other medical professional, however, so I’m not quite sure if this can be attributed to the amount of water I was drinking or if it was coincidental.

What I didn’t like:

This answer might seem obvious, but having to use the ladies' room so often can be quite annoying. I’m lucky that I work in an office with an easily accessible ladies' room, but I wouldn’t suggest this to someone who is constantly traveling or who would have to search high and low to find the nearest restroom. I also didn’t like the fact that this didn’t come naturally to me, meaning it was very difficult for me to keep up with drinking the water. I had to make a conscious effort to make sure I drank the three liters, and if it was almost my bedtime I would still drink the daily amount, but I’d have to wake up in the middle of the night and use the bathroom.

If you're curious, I'd recommend giving it a try to see the positive effects it might have on your body. However, please be aware that there can be harmful effects of overconsuming water, such as a brain edema (swelling), so check with your medical provider to determine what amount would suit your body best.

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